WZAG, Gonzaga’s morning show, goes live every morning at 9:40 a.m. Before WZAG goes live, however, students do a lot of work behind the scenes. Students are put into different groups, and each person has a different role to fulfill for the broadcast to run smoothly.
Before the broadcast, students work in groups to each work on their assignments.
“At the beginning of class, they have lectures and get inspiration from videos online. At about 9:05, they split into different groups. Two-thirds of the class works on broadcasts and their features. The other one-third is working in the studio and practicing before they go live for the day,” said Mr. Ciaran Freeman, fine arts teacher.
During the broadcast production, students are in charge of specific roles. There is an audio operator, autocue operator, show manager, screen operator, and broadcasters. The environment that they work in is laid back, and everyone is having a good time. Students are free to work inside and outside of class on features and other projects they need to accomplish. “I enjoy the freedom we have when it comes to doing work, and I enjoy being able to talk to my friends,” said Patrick Kopplon, junior.
Students’ workload is spread out, so it gives them time to work. By the time students are halfway through a quarter, they must have 50% of their assigned work done. Students in the first and fifth blocks work on live shows, but the seventh block pre-records its broadcasts, which are broadcasted once a week.
“Every quarter, you need two title cards, one feature, one news update, and one intro,” Mr. Freeman said.
WZAG is a class that involves work inside and outside of school. The class has to work efficiently in order to put a broadcast out to the entire school. Students need to take care of their individual roles when broadcasting and their role when making features, title cards, etc. Trial runs are necessary to put on a show, and if all goes to plan, it takes one class to be able to put on a broadcast.